An uninterruptible power supply having an input connector for receiving AC power from a centralized source of electric power such as a power grid of an electric utility company, a first electric outlet, and a second electric outlet for delivering AC power, a first switch for selectively allowing AC power therethrough to the first outlet, a second switch for selectively allowing AC power therethrough to the second outlet: and a controller operable to control the second switch so that AC power is delivered to the second outlet a predetermined amount of time after AC power is delivered to the first outlet (i.e., after a time delay).
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising: an input connector for receiving AC power; a charger circuit coupled to the input connector and operable to produce a DC output; a battery coupled to the charger circuit; an inverter coupled to the battery and configured to produce an AC power; a first electrical outlet for delivering AC power; a second electrical outlet for delivering AC power; a first switch for selectively coupling the first electrical outlet to the input connector and the inverter; a second switch for selectively coupling the second electrical outlet to the input connector and the inverter; a controller configured to determine the existence of an interruption in a supply of AC power to the input connector, to detect the depletion of energy stored in the battery, to determine a restoration of the supply of AC power to the input connector, and to control the first switch and the second switch such that AC power is provided to the second electrical outlet a predetermined amount of time after AC power is provided to the first electrical outlet, the predetermined amount of time equal to ten or more seconds; and a housing configured to fit within a structured wiring box, wherein the housing encloses the charger circuit, the battery, the inverter, the first switch, the second switch, and the controller.
2. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1 , further comprising: a DC-outlet connected to the charger circuit, and a third switch between the DC-outlet and the charger circuit, wherein the controller is operable to control the third switch to deliver a DC voltage to the DC-outlet subsequent to the predetermined amount of time.
3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , further comprising an EMI and noise filter circuit, and a resettable circuit breaker connected in line with the EMI and noise filter circuit.
4. The uninterruptible power supply circuit of claim 3 , wherein the filter circuit and the circuit breaker are connected between the input connector and the first switch.
5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of data ports including an input port and an output port, and a surge protector circuit connected between the input port and the output port, the surge protector circuit operable to prevent signal surges from flowing through the plurality of data ports.
6. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1 , the housing is configured to fit within a structured wiring box having a depth, a height, and a width, and wherein the depth is less than four inches.
7. The uninterruptible power supply system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is equal to 30 or more seconds.
8. A system for providing power to networking devices within a home, the system comprising: a structured wiring box having a structured housing; a modem having a power cord and positioned within the structured housing; a router having a power cord and positioned within the structured housing, the second networking device dependent upon information made available from the first networking device; an uninterruptible power supply positioned within the structured housing, the uninterruptible power supply including an input connector for receiving AC power; a charger circuit coupled to the input connector and operable to produce a DC output; a battery coupled to the charger circuit; an inverter coupled to the battery and configured to produce AC power; a first electrical outlet for delivering AC power; a second electrical outlet for delivering DC power; a first switch for selectively coupling the first electrical outlet to the input connector and the inverter; a second switch between the second electrical outlet and the charger circuit; and a controller configured to determine the existence of an interruption in a supply of AC power to the input connector, to detect the depletion of energy stored in the battery, to determine a restoration of the supply of AC power to the input connector, and to control the first switch and the second switch such that DC power is provided to the second electrical outlet a predetermined amount of time after AC power is provided to the first electrical outlet, wherein the power cord of the modem is connected to the first electrical outlet of the uninterruptible power supply and the power cord of the router is connected to the second electrical outlet of the uninterruptible power supply, and wherein providing DC power to the second electrical outlet a predetermined amount of time after AC power is provided to the first electrical outlet enables the modem to receive an IP address from an Internet provider before the second electrical output provides power to the router.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a reset circuit operable to control the uninterruptible power supply to interrupt power supply to the router and the modem.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an EMI and noise filter circuit, and a resettable circuit breaker connected in line with the EMI and noise filter circuit.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filter circuit and the circuit breaker are connected between the input connector and the first switch.
12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of data ports including an input port and an output port, and a surge protector circuit connected between the input port and the output port, the surge protector circuit operable to prevent signal surges from flowing through the plurality of data ports.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a housing configured to fit within the structured wiring box, and wherein the housing of the uninterruptible power supply encloses the charger circuit, the battery, the inverter, the first switch, the second switch, and the controller.
14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising: a third electrical outlet for delivering AC power, and a third switch for selectively coupling the third electrical outlet to the input connector and the inverter, wherein the controller is operable to control the third switch to deliver AC power to the third electrical outlet subsequent to the predetermined amount of time.
15. A method for operating an uninterruptible power supply, the method comprising: connecting an input connector to a source of AC power; connecting a charger circuit to the input connector; connecting a battery to the charger circuit; connecting an inverter to the battery; selectively connecting a first electrical outlet configured to deliver AC power to the input connector and the inverter through a switch; selectively connecting a second electrical outlet configured to deliver AC power to the input connector and the inverter through a second switch; connecting a controller to the first switch and the second switch; and configuring the controller to determine the existence of an interruption in a supply of AC power to the input connector, to detect the depletion of energy stored in the battery, to determine a restoration of the supply of AC power to the input connector, and to control the first switch and the second switch such that AC power is provided to the second electrical outlet a predetermined amount of time after AC power is provided to the first electrical outlet, thereby providing power to the first and second electrical outlets in a predetermined sequence, wherein providing power in the predetermined sequence enables a first device connected to the first electrical outlet to power up and obtain an IP address before power is provided to the second electrical outlet.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising connecting a third switch to the charger circuit; operating the third switch to supply DC voltage to a DC-outlet the predetermined amount of time after detecting restoration of the supply of AC power.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is equal to 30 or more seconds.
18. A method for operating an uninterruptible power supply including an input connector for receiving AC power, a first outlet and a second outlet for delivering AC power, a first relay for selectively allowing AC power therethrough to the first outlet, a second relay for selectively allowing AC power therethrough to the second outlet, and a reset circuit, the method comprising: relaying AC power from the input connector to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet; operating the reset circuit; operating at least one of the first relay and the second relay to temporarily interrupt power supply in response to operating the reset circuit; operating the first relay to supply AC power to the first outlet in response to temporarily interrupting power supply; and operating the second relay to supply AC power to the second outlet subsequent to a time delay in response to temporarily interrupting power supply.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising transforming AC power to a DC voltage, operating a third relay to supply the DC voltage to a DC-outlet subsequent to the time delay in response to temporarily interrupting power supply.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 21, 2008
March 30, 2010
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